I am generally not the biggest fan of November, despite the fact that it's my birthday month. Generally speaking, November in Ohio is a dismal month with few redeeming features.
But one week into this November and I am singing a different tune. There's been so much blue sky this week one might almost forget one lives in Cleveland. Add to that a few significant celebrations and a the continuation of all of my regularly scheduled fun, and this month is off to a great start.
Behold. November beauty. Pictured here: Forest Hill Park, Wagar Beach, and Cumberland Park.
(how lucky am I, that I get to spend time in these places on a regular basis?)
Ivy met a new friend- This is Mr. Big, Mallory's third horse who is currently boarding with a trainer. Because he's kind of insane. But so gorgeous, and friendly and funny. I'm in love. Ivy swears she will never ride him. :) We also went to a tack swap, because apparently that's something I do in my life now. Life is so unexpected sometimes-- but I am absolutely loving being on this adventure with my girl, and so grateful to my friend for this opportunity.
We celebrated the birthday of these two wonderful humans on Saturday. Officially teenagers! I treasure these kids- and their continuing friendship with Ivy. Second generation besties.
In news of our increasingly photo shy son: Had his annual well visit. He is 5'11 3/4 " tall and weighs 161 pounds. Needs to sleep more and get more protien but otherwise in perfect healthy. We just had his conferences and overall he was termed a delight, except in his engineering class where he is refusing to do his work because he "just doesn't like it." He's put all his academic eggs into the APUSH basket and has raised his grade from a D to an A- and I'm proud of him for learning how to work at school, for pretty much the first time ever. He's renamed the kitten "Shmeigelton" and he is generally hilarious and now that swim team is starting I hardly see him at all. But I love him so.
The big celebration of this week- Completion of our OEC training course! Nat and I are official members of the Boston Mills/Brandywine/Alpine Valley ski patrol!
Taking this class was legit one of the hardest things I have done in a long time. I've made it a practice for so many years to simply not do things if I am not already good at them. Starting at point zeros with learning the full gamut of skills needed for an Outdoor Emergency technician... I was not already good at this. Then the full blown stage fright that kicked in every time we did a scenario- I hate improv! And I hate not knowing what to do! I have not cried in front of so many people for many years. Saturdays on the hill just shattered me for a number of weeks and I came very close to dropping out of the class. But once I start something I finish it. So I kept coming back for more torment...
Nat was a constant support on this journey. He too went through some anxiety as we traveled this steep learning curve (we all did, even Tyler, the "principal's award" winner!) but was always ready to encourage me and accept me with out judgement after I broke down. And my dear classmates did too. This group of people- they are so extraordinarily nice. They were gentle and encouraging and funny and kind and never made me feel like a failure for being emotional.
And this guy- Chris- one of our instructors-- he's probably the single person I can credit with me eventual success. He knew instantly how to to treat me when I froze up-- a tiny bit of scaffolding, a bit of push, no pity- and after having him as our group leader for a couple of weeks I was able to get my shit together and start having some success. I only cried 4 times on exam day so I count that as a win! :)
These are the faces of people who have just made it through an intense and stressful day together. While I am not going to miss driving down to Brandywine twice a week (and not even skiing!) I am going to miss seeing these faces all the time.
Got another big stressor out of the way this weekend: singing on a microphone! (this is a very scary photo for me...!) Luckily it was at church, in a trio, singing Wailin' Jenny's songs, so it was the best possible way for me to have to sing on a microphone. And I survived, though with a lot of nerves and a few vocal flubs. By the end of service I was actually enjoying myself- it is fun to lead music with our sweet, appreciated congregation. I'd missed it. I almost hope Amanda asks our group to perform again (who even am I???) But I'm also glad to have this one performance (and the extra rehearsing for it) out of the way before the next few weeks of COC insanity (pretty much a full week at Severance for the Adams, Thanksgiving off, then the 12 nights of Christmas). Life just does not slow down!
In the midst of the craziness, I do manage to slow time a bit, when I'm out in my kayak. This unseasonably fabulous weather has let me get Betty out on the water not once but twice this month. I am pleased as punch. And sad that my trip out yesterday (November 9th) may well be the last one, as we will be in the 30s with snow for the next 10 days. All good things must come to a pause, I suppose. (not an end! Just a little time away from the water while I busy myself with holidays and snow. I'll be back on the waves again before I know it...)
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